Why is it that when it comes to the big British Gun Makers, Rigby are the only brand that offers "affordable" models?

[Northern Shooter]

According to the Rigby website the Big Game starts at $18,000 the PH is $14,000.

Is there a Rigby US site? I'm seeing the PH model start at £9,250 and the Big Game at £10,000, which were the numbers I used for my conversions.

 

[Russ16]

Is there a Rigby US site? I'm seeing the PH model start at £9,250 and the Big Game at £10,000, which were the numbers I used for my conversions.

This so where I’m looking. Probably includes import duties and taxes.

Think Big Game. Think Rigby. - John Rigby & Co.

www.johnrigbyandco.com

 

[FlyGuy]

The M98 is a superbly made rifle.
I’ve loved them from the first time I ever fired one. Unfortunately they’re beyond my pay grade.
Rigby currently use the M98 action and barrel for all their rifles.
The only thing I would like to see changed on the M98, is proper blueing instead of the plasma nitride finish, and perhaps a classic red recoil pad.

 

[KJE81]

The M98 is a superbly made rifle.
I’ve loved them from the first time I ever fired one. Unfortunately they’re beyond my pay grade.
Rigby currently use the M98 action and barrel for all their rifles.
The only thing I would like to see changed on the M98, is proper blueing instead of the plasma nitride finish, and perhaps a classic red recoil pad.

I also would like to see them with a proper rust blueing instead of the plasma nitride. In my opinion the plasma nitride makes the barrels look dull and cheap.

I can see the practical benefit of an extremely durable finish but still would go for a real blueing instead if possible.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Yea the nitride makes a ton of sense on something with a synthetic stock. On a wood stocked rifle? Not so much..

 

[Northern Shooter]

The M98 is a superbly made rifle.
I’ve loved them from the first time I ever fired one. Unfortunately they’re beyond my pay grade.
Rigby currently use the M98 action and barrel for all their rifles.
The only thing I would like to see changed on the M98, is proper blueing instead of the plasma nitride finish, and perhaps a classic red recoil pad.

I’m assuming Rigby uses proper bluing on their rifles in comparison?

 

[V.Veritas]

I’m assuming Rigby uses proper bluing on their rifles in comparison?

Correct.

 

[ay2626]

I’m assuming Rigby uses proper bluing on their rifles in comparison?

I would assume so on a London best but the production highland stalker and big games rifles are nitride finish as well. At least mine are and that’s what their website says.

 

[Inkgardener]

This thread has only reinforced my interest in the Rigby brand and has sold me on on buying one of their “poor-rich-man” models.

Now the only question is Highland Stalker or Big Game? It would have to be in either 275 or 416 Rigby.

I want one of each.

 

[Inkgardener]

To take it even further. Here are my working man’s version of the British rifle. “Poor man’s Rigby” View attachment 658241

View attachment 658242

I like those a lot, what are they exactly?

 

[Northern Shooter]

I want one of each.

That would be pretty sweet. 275 for PG and 416 for DG. I’m sure there are some members on here who own both models.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Inkgardner, the top is a Danzig Mauser WW1 era
And the second is a RJ Renner “Old African” model 70 in .300 WinMag

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

I'm glad Rigby is offering a lower cost option and feel it's a smart move.

I aspire to own a London Best someday when I figure out exactly what I want it to be and more importantly am in a position where I'm comfortable spending that much cash.

In the near term I do plan on getting a Highland Stalker to tide me over as the London Best is at least 4 or 5 years away so that nets them two rifle sales right there.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

Interesting discussion. I'm sure that there is a member that can answer this question. Because of global changes (ie WWI , WW2 and others) , it is my understanding that Rigby initially used Mauser actions for their long action rifles. Who provided them with actions after WW1, the interwar period and after WW2? Just curious.

 

[steve white]

I thought Rigby was a more sensible choice because they are Irish...
Movie quote typifying English reaction to all things Irish..."Learn nothing from that Irishman, except how not to behave." (movie hint, made near Islandhwana)

BTW, I'll take rust blueing any day. My own fume blueing is the next thing to indestructible, and repairable if it comes to it. Just a bit less glossy.

 

[Certus]

They ones that don’t make the more affordable stuff (thinking WR here) have lost some of their heritage.

 

[grand veneur]

Interesting discussion. I'm sure that there is a member that can answer this question. Because of global changes (ie WWI , WW2 and others) , it is my understanding that Rigby initially used Mauser actions for their long action rifles. Who provided them with actions after WW1, the interwar period and after WW2? Just curious.

Between the first and second world wars, the supply of Mauser actions and especially Mauser Magnum actions still seems to have worked. After the Second World War there must have been problems, especially when it came to the supply of Mauser Magnum actions. One could not and perhaps did not want to have anything to do with Germany anymore. France had looted and dismantled the Mauser factory in Oberndorf anyway. It is reported that many British gunmakers used P-14 Enfield actions during this time or then supplied themselves with especially Mauser Magnum actions from used rifles from the colonies. Some will have used the Mauser Brevex actions from French production. With the end of the colonial era in the early 1960s, the demand for such rifles that needed Magnum actions was either way low.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

Between the first and second world wars, the supply of Mauser actions and especially Mauser Magnum actions still seems to have worked. After the Second World War there must have been problems, especially when it came to the supply of Mauser Magnum actions. One could not and perhaps did not want to have anything to do with Germany anymore. France had looted and dismantled the Mauser factory in Oberndorf anyway. It is reported that many British gunmakers used P-14 Enfield actions during this time or then supplied themselves with especially Mauser Magnum actions from used rifles from the colonies. Some will have used the Mauser Brevex actions from French production. With the end of the colonial era in the early 1960s, the demand for such rifles that needed Magnum actions was either way low.

I thought that i heard that Rigby had sourced magnum actions from BRNO or CZ post war but I can't remember where I heard it.

 

[grand veneur]

I thought that i heard that Rigby had sourced magnum actions from BRNO or CZ post war but I can't remember where I heard it.

It's hard to imagine something like that right after the war. These countries were under Soviet occupation. Perhaps at a later date.

 

[flatwater bill]

Curiously, although the avid sportsman could see the advantage to the great British bolt guns, the American manufacturers learned nothing. I'm not just talking about the high gloss blue-black, the white line spacers and the general geometry, but the often push feed and cheap sights. Yet my biggest complaint was the short, swept back bolt designed to bust your knuckles with heavy recoil. Some of these issues would have been cheap to fix......some expensive.......but the big rifles were made for men that could travel to hunt, and therefore had some money. Look at the bolt handle on a Rigby Mauser. That says it all. They simply knew more than their competitors...............FWB